Schwerin (dpa / mv) - Districts and municipalities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania can continue to be able to hold meetings in digital form to protect against infections and thus make decisions. On Wednesday, the state parliament approved an extension of the law introduced in the course of the corona pandemic to maintain the municipal capacity to act. According to this, municipalities can temporarily deviate from organizational and budgetary regulations after the enactment of a corresponding state ordinance. The prerequisite is that the sessions are broadcast on the Internet in order to create the required publicity. The regulation would have expired at the end of the year.
According to Interior Minister Christian Schwachen (SPD), these rules have proven their worth over the past two years of the pandemic. The municipalities have dealt with it responsibly. Level also pointed out that the newly drafted law also extends the powers of the municipalities to react quickly to financial emergencies of public utilities in the course of the energy crisis.
Criticism came from the opposition. Several speakers complained that the circulation procedure for decision-making had been removed from the law. Jens-Holger Schneider from the AfD expressed general doubts about the necessity of the law. Compliance with basic hygiene measures offers sufficient protection even in face-to-face meetings. FDP parliamentary group leader René Domke called for a fundamental reform of the municipal constitution in order to enable digital or hybrid meetings in principle. This is particularly appropriate for a flat state like Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and helps to better reconcile voluntary work and family.
According to the municipal associations, municipal councils meet eight to ten times a year, district councils a little less. However, meetings of the specialist committees, parliamentary groups and the bodies of the offices are also affected by the special rules. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania there are around 700 municipalities and cities, six rural districts and around 120 offices.
